The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, breathing-related disability, and lower back disability are granted. The Veteran is denied for higher initial ratings or earlier effective dates for her service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been diagnosed with an acquired psychiatric disorder that is proximately due to her service-connected disabilities. Her bilateral hip and knee disabilities have been rated based on their specific limitations of motion, while her lower back disability remains at a 40% rating as there is no evidence of favorable or unfavorable ankylosis. The Veteran's tinnitus was granted effective June 19, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, breathing problems, lower back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability with shin splints, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- October 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18145286
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18145286.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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